Researchers looked at structural and functional eye health in 35 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who underwent optic nerve sheath fenestration. Measurements were taken at six, 12, and 24 weeks after the surgery to see how swelling and vision changed over time.
The results showed that swelling around the optic nerve and nerve fiber thickness decreased significantly. Visual acuity and visual field scores improved during the follow-up period. However, some measures of macular ganglion cell layers declined over time, which may reflect ongoing nerve changes as swelling resolves.
Correlations between nerve structure and vision became stronger by 24 weeks. No safety issues or adverse events were reported in this small group. Because the study design was retrospective and involved a limited number of patients, these results should not be taken as proof of universal benefit or long-term safety.
Clinicians may find OCT-derived parameters useful for monitoring patients after surgery. Early nerve fiber readings can be confused by swelling, so later measurements better reflect true nerve health. Readers should view this as early evidence that requires larger, prospective studies to confirm.